In recent months, there has been growing confusion about what falls under the umbrella of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Some are now suggesting that accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should be grouped with DEI initiatives under labels like “DEIA,” an approach that risks undermining decades of legal precedent. But the ADA is not merely a DEI policy.

Color Blindness Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness about color vision deficiency (CVD) and its impact on daily life. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide experience some form of color blindness, making it crucial for public spaces to consider their needs in urban planning and design.

As we step into fall, we honor an invaluable part of our community—service dogs. National Service Dog Month recognizes these highly trained animals that assist individuals with disabilities, promoting independence and enriching lives in ways we often take for granted.

Independent living is a life-altering experience that allows for self-growth. By implementing Universal Design (UD) elements into public and private spaces, the opportunity to live independently expands for individuals with disabilities. 

Nearly fifty years after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act went into effect, Americans with disabilities are still fighting for the same rights and opportunities as their peers. Health disparities affect minorities across America every day. 

In New York City, amidst its bustling streets and sprawling transit network, a less spoken narrative exists. While the city brings in dreamers, creatives, and those with amazing ambitions, it also chases away a vital community that makes up its boroughs—people with visual and physical disabilities.

The numbers tell a sobering story:

Accessible transportation is crucial in ensuring equal opportunities, independence for individuals with disabilities, and a way for people to get from point A to point B. Therefore, transportation systems must be designed and operated to accommodate all passengers' diverse needs. In this article, we will explore the best practices for ensuring accessibility in transportation so that everyone can navigate and enjoy the benefits of a well-connected society.

Tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the world, with millions of people traveling to different destinations every year. However, not all tourists can enjoy their travels similarly, as many destinations are still not fully accessible to people with disabilities or other special needs. 

There are detectable warning surfaces everywhere, including the base of every ramp leading to the street and at the corner of every intersection. Even though individuals frequently walk over these surfaces without giving them much thought, they play a crucial role in many people's lives, including those with limited or no vision.

Since the 1800s, people with disabilities pushed for recognizing disability as an aspect of identity that influences experiences and is not the sole-defining feature of a person. Unfortunately, harmful biases, assumptions, stereotypes, and irrational fears created a stigma around disabilities that followed a lack of advancements in access to public transportation, telephones, bathrooms, stores, office buildings, and other work sites. This stagnation left disabled individuals unable to find employment and kept them from opportunities for meaningful work.